Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Union finance minister Arun Jaitely had put an end to a decade of discrimination with an innovative and dynamic budget which would give a boost to agriculture and food processing besides addressing the concerns of all sections of society.In a statement here, Mr Badal also pointed out that it was the first time in a decade that Punjab as well as the issues relating to the State including agriculture and food processing had been given importance in the union budget. “The earlier Congress led UPA government followed a policy of discrimination against us due to which Punjab has suffered immensely. The clock is finally being reversed with the rail budget witnessing allocation of five new trains to Punjab and now the Union budget which has allocated us an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) besides funds for heritage conservation in Amritsar besides other projects”, he added.
The Deputy CM said establishment of an IIM in Punjab would result in nurturing of top class talent in the State and feed the upcoming corporate sector. He also welcomed the decision to expedite the industrial mapping of the Kolkata – Amritsar industrial corridor and the decision to establish seven smart cities in this corridor. He said this project had the ability to transform the economy of Punjab within a span of few years.Mr Badal also conveyed his gratitude to Mr Jaitely for including Amritsar inthe National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for which Rs 500 crore have been allocated. He said this would give a fillip to the ongoing heritage conservation steps being taken by the Punjab government in Amritsar.
He also congratulated Mr Jaitely for understanding the problems of farmers of Punjab as well as the country, by announcing that agriculture loans would now be available to them at an interest rate of seven per cent. He said farmers would also benefit by the introduction of a health card facility for them.The Deputy CM said the decision to reduce excise duty in the food processing from the present ten per cent to six per cent would give the much desired boost to this sector in Punjab. He said the decision to give a ten year tax holiday to all power companies who start producing and distributing power by March 2017 could usher in an era of cheaper power in the State.